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<p>Anguillids have been consumed globally for centuries, with East Asia driving global demand in recent decades. As the world’s leading consumer and importer of eels, Japan plays a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of anguillid populations. However, comprehensive studies on the species composition of eels in the Japanese market remain limited. This study examined the species composition of eel products in Japan and their connections to international trade and farming data. A total of 134 eel samples were collected from retailers in several cities in Japan in 2024. Among 133 samples successfully identified through DNA barcoding, Japanese eels <i>Anguilla japonica</i> were the most common species, followed by American eels <i>Anguilla rostrata</i> and European eels <i>Anguilla anguilla</i>. A distinct difference in species composition was observed between domestically produced and imported products. All domestically produced eel products were identified as the Japanese eel, while imported products—primarily from China—were dominated by American eels. These results aligned with the recent trade data and glass eel input data for farming in Japan and China. The presence of European eels in the Japanese market was found to be minimal, suggesting limited direct involvement in the illegal trade of the species.</p>

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Eel consumption in Japan: Insights from genetic species identification and trade data

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月13日

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  • Hiromi Shiraishi,
  • Yu-San Han,
  • Kenzo Kaifu

摘要

Anguillids have been consumed globally for centuries, with East Asia driving global demand in recent decades. As the world’s leading consumer and importer of eels, Japan plays a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of anguillid populations. However, comprehensive studies on the species composition of eels in the Japanese market remain limited. This study examined the species composition of eel products in Japan and their connections to international trade and farming data. A total of 134 eel samples were collected from retailers in several cities in Japan in 2024. Among 133 samples successfully identified through DNA barcoding, Japanese eels Anguilla japonica were the most common species, followed by American eels Anguilla rostrata and European eels Anguilla anguilla. A distinct difference in species composition was observed between domestically produced and imported products. All domestically produced eel products were identified as the Japanese eel, while imported products—primarily from China—were dominated by American eels. These results aligned with the recent trade data and glass eel input data for farming in Japan and China. The presence of European eels in the Japanese market was found to be minimal, suggesting limited direct involvement in the illegal trade of the species.